The present invention relates to a method for producing L-lysine by cultivating a microorganism obtained by modifying a coryneform bacterium used for fermentative production of amino acids or the like by means of a technique based on genetic engineering.

L-Lysine, which is used as a fodder additive, is usually produced by a fermentative method by using an L-lysine-producing mutant strain belonging to the coryneform bacteria. Various L-lysine-producing bacteria known at present are those created by artificial mutation starting from wild type strains belonging to the coryneform bacteria.

As for the coryneform bacteria, there are disclosed a vector plasmid which is autonomously replicable in bacterial cells and has a drug resistance marker gene (see United States Patent No. 4,514,502), and a method for introducing a gene into bacterial cells (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2-207791). There is also disclosed a possibility for breeding an L-threonine- or L-isoleucine-producing bacterium by using the techniques as described above (see United States Patent Nos. 4,452,890 and 4,442,208). As for breeding of an L-lysine-producing bacterium, a technique is known, in which a gene participating in L-lysine biosynthesis is incorporated into a vector plasmid to amplify the gene in bacterial cells (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 56-160997).

Known genes for L-lysine biosynthesis include, for example, a dihydrodipicolinate reductase gene (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 7-75578) and a diaminopimelate dehydrogenase gene (Ishino, S. et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 15, 3917 (1987)), which are cloned genes which participate in L-lysine biosynthesis, as well as a phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase gene (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 60-87788), a dihydrodipicolinate synthase gene (Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-55149), and a diaminopimelate decarboxylase gene (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 60-62994), amplification of which affects L-lysine productivity.

As described above, certain successful results to improve L-lysine productivity have been obtained by means of amplification of genes for the L-lysine biosynthesis. However, amplification of some genes decreases growth speed of bacteria although the amplification improves L-lysine productivity, resulting in decrease of rate of L-lysine production.

No case has been reported in which growth is intended to be improved by enhancing a gene for L-lysine biosynthesis as well. In the present circumstances, no case is known for the coryneform bacteria, in which anyone has succeeded in remarkable improvement in L-lysine yield without restraining growth, by combining a plurality of genes for L-lysine biosynthesis.

An object of the present invention is to improve the L-lysine-producing ability without decreasing the growth speed of a coryneform bacterium, by enhancing a plurality of genes for L-lysine biosynthesis in combination in the coryneform bacteria.

When an objective substance is produced fermentatively by using a microorganism, the production speed, as well as the yield of the objective substance relative to an introduced material, is an extremely important factor. An objective substance may be produced remarkably inexpensively by increasing the production speed per a unit of fermentation equipment. Accordingly, it is industrially extremely important that the fermentative yield and the production speed are compatible with each other. The present invention proposes a solution for the problem as described above in order to fermentatively produce L-lysine by using a coryneform bacterium.

The principle of the present invention takes into account the fact that the growth of a coryneform bacterium can be improved, and the L-lysine-producing speed thereof can be improved by enhancing both of a DNA sequence coding for a diaminopimelate decarboxylase (a diaminopimelate decarboxylase is hereinafter referred to as "DDC", and a gene coding for a DDC protein is hereinafter referred to as "lysA", if necessary), and a DNA sequence coding for a diaminopimelate dehydrogenase (a diaminopimelate dehydrogenase is hereinafter referred to as "DDH", and a gene coding for a DDH protein is hereinafter referred to as "ddh", if necessary) compared with the case in which these DNA sequences are each enhanced singly.

Namely, the present invention lies in a coryneform bacterium which has a DNA sequence coding for an aspartokinase which is desensitized in feedback inhibition by L-Lysine and L-Threonine and in which the intracellular enzymatic activities of dihydrodipicolinate reductase, dihydrodipicolinate synthase, diaminopimelate decarboxylase and diaminopimelate dehydrogenase are raised by increasing a copy number of the DNA sequences coding for said enzymes.

In still another aspect, the present invention provides a method for producing L-lysine comprising the steps of cultivating the coryneform bacterium described above in a medium to allow L-lysine to be produced and accumulated in a culture, and collecting L-lysine from the culture.

The coryneform bacteria referred to in the present invention are a group of microorganisms as defined in Bergey's Manual of Determinative Bacteriology, 8th ed., p. 599 (1974), which are aerobic Gram-positive non-acid-fast rods having no spore-forming ability. The coryneform bacteria include bacteria belonging to the genus Corynebacterium, bacteria belonging to the genus Brevibacterium having been hitherto classified into the genus Brevibacterium but united as bacteria belonging to the genus Corynebacterium at present, and bacteria belonging to the genus Brevibacterium closely relative to bacteria belonging to the genus Corynebacterium.

According to the present invention, the L-lysine-producing ability of coryneform bacteria can be improved, and the growth speed can be also improved. The present invention can be applied to ordinary L-lysine-producing bacteria as well as strains with high L-lysine productivity.

• Fig. 1 illustrates a process of construction of a plasmid p299LYSA carrying lysA.
• Fig. 2 illustrates a process of construction of a plasmid pLYSAB carrying lysA and Brevi.-ori.
• Fig. 3 illustrates a process of construction of a plasmid pPK4D carrying ddh and Brevi.-ori.
• Fig. 4 illustrates a process of construction of a plasmid p399DL carrying ddh and lysA.
• Fig. 5 illustrates a process of construction of a plasmid pDL carrying ddh, lysA and Brevi.-ori.
• Fig. 6 illustrates a process of construction of plasmids p399AKYB and p399AK9B each carrying mutant lysC.
• Fig. 7 illustrates a process of construction of a plasmid pDPRB carrying dapB and Brevi.-ori.
• Fig. 8 illustrates a process of construction of a plasmid pDPSB carrying dapA and Brevi.-ori.
• Fig. 9 illustrates a process of construction of a plasmid pCRCAB carrying lysC, dapB and Brevi.-ori.
• Fig. 10 illustrates a process of construction of a plasmid pCB carrying mutant lysC, dapB, and Brevi.-ori.
• Fig. 11 illustrates a process of construction of a plasmid pAB carrying dapA, dapB and Brevi.-ori.
• Fig. 12 illustrates a process of construction of a plasmid pCAB carrying mutant lysC, dapA, dapB, and Brevi.-ori.
• Fig. 13 illustrates a process of construction of a plasmid pCABL carrying mutant lysC, dapA, dapB, lysA, and Brevi.-ori.
• Fig. 14 illustrates a process of construction of a plasmid pCABDL carrying mutant lysC, dapA, dapB, ddh, lysA, and Brevi.-ori.

The present invention will be explained in detail below.

The genes for L-lysine biosynthesis used in the present invention can be obtained respectively by preparing chromosomal DNA from a bacterium as a DNA donor, constructing a chromosomal DNA library by using a plasmid vector or the like, selecting a strain harboring a desired gene from the library, and recovering, from the selected strain, recombinant DNA into which the gene has been inserted. The DNA donor for the gene for L-lysine biosynthesis used in the present invention is not specifically limited provided that the desired gene for L-lysine biosynthesis expresses an enzyme protein which functions in cells of coryneform bacteria. However, the DNA donor is preferably a coryneform bacterium.

Both of the genes of lysA and ddh originating from coryneform bacteria have known sequences. Accordingly, they can be obtained by performing amplification in accordance with the polymerase chain reaction method (PCR; see White, T. J. et al., Trends Genet., 5, 185 (1989)).

Each of the genes for L-lysine biosynthesis used in the present invention is obtainable in accordance with certain methods as exemplified below.

lysA can be isolated from chromosome of a coryneform bacterium by preparing chromosomal DNA in accordance with, for example, a method of Saito and Miura (H. Saito and K. Miura, Biochem. Biophys. Acta, 72, 619 (1963)), and amplifying lysA in accordance with the polymerase chain reaction method (PCR; see White, T. J. et al., Trends Genet., 5, 185 (1989)). The DNA donor is not specifically limited, however, it is exemplified by Brevibacterium lactofermentum ATCC 13869 strain.

In the coryneform bacteria, lysA forms an operon together with argS (arginyl-tRNA synthase gene), and lysA exists downstream from argS. Expression of lysA is regulated by a promoter existing upstream from argS (see Journal of Bacteriology, Nov., 7356-7362 (1993)). DNA sequences of these genes are known for Corynebacterium glutamicum (see Molecular Microbiology, 4(11), 1819-1830 (1990); Molecular and General Genetics, 212, 112-119 (1988)), on the basis of which DNA primers for PCR can be prepared. Such DNA primers are specifically exemplified by DNA's of 23-mers respectively having nucleotide sequences shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 in Sequence Listing (corresponding to nucleotide numbers 11 to 33 in a nucleotide sequence described in Molecular Microbiology, 4(11), 1819-1830 (1990)) and SEQ ID NO: 2 (corresponding to nucleotide numbers 1370 to 1392 in a nucleotide sequence described in Molecular and General Genetics, 212, 112-119 (1988)).

In Example described later on, a DNA fragment containing a promoter, argS, and lysA was used in order to enhance lysA. However, argS is not essential for the present invention. It is allowable to use a DNA fragment in which lysA is ligated just downstream from a promoter.

A nucleotide sequence of a DNA fragment containing argS and lysA, and an amino acid sequence deduced to be encoded by the nucleotide sequence are exemplified in SEQ ID NO: 3. An example of an amino acid sequence encoded by argS is shown in SEQ ID NO: 4, and an example of an amino acid sequence encoded by lysA is shown in SEQ ID NO: 5. In addition to DNA fragments coding for these amino acid sequences, the present invention can equivalently use DNA fragments coding for amino acid sequences substantially the same as the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 5, namely amino acid sequences having mutation based on, for example, substitution, deletion, or insertion of one or more amino acids provided that there is no substantial influence on the DDC activity.

DNA can be synthesized in accordance with an ordinary method by using DNA synthesizer model 380B produced by Applied Biosystems and using the phosphoamidite method (see Tetrahedron Letters (1981), 22, 1859). PCR can be performed by using DNA Thermal Cycler Model PJ2000 produced by Takara Shuzo, and using Taq DNA polymerase in accordance with a method designated by the supplier.

It is preferred that lysA amplified by PCR is ligated with vector DNA autonomously replicable in cells of E. coli and/or coryneform bacteria to prepare recombinant DNA, and the recombinant DNA is introduced into cells of E. coli beforehand. Such provision makes following operations easy. The vector autonomously replicable in cells of E. coli is preferably a plasmid vector which is preferably autonomously replicable in cells of a host, including, for example, pUC19, pUC18, pBR322, pHSG299, pHSG399, pHSG398, and RSF1010.

When a DNA fragment having an ability to allow a plasmid to be autonomously replicable in coryneform bacteria is inserted into these vectors, they can be used as a so-called shuttle vector autonomously replicable in both E, coli and coryneform bacteria.

Such a shuttle vector includes the followings. Microorganisms harboring each of vectors and accession numbers in international depositary authorities are shown in parentheses.

pHC4:

Escherichia coli AJ12617 (FERM BP-3532)

pAJ655:

Escherichia coli AJ11882 (FERM BP-136) Corynebacterium glutamicum SR8201 (ATCC 39135)

pAJ1844:

Escherichia coli AJ11883 (FERM BP-137) Corynebacterium glutamicum SR8202 (ATCC 39136)

pAJ611:

Escherichia coli AJ11884 (FERM BP-138)

pAJ3148:

Corynebacterium glutamicum SR8203 (ATCC 39137)

pAJ440:

Bacillus subtilis AJ11901 (FERM BP-140)

These vectors are obtainable from the deposited microorganisms as follows. Cells collected at a logarithmic growth phase were lysed by using lysozyme and SDS, followed by separation from a lysate by centrifugation at 30,000 × g to obtain a supernatant. Polyethylene glycol is added to the supernatant, followed by fractionation and purification by means of cesium chloride-ethidium bromide equilibrium density gradient centrifugation.

E. coli can be transformed by introducing a plasmid in accordance with, for example, a method of D. M. Morrison (Methods in Enzymology, 68, 326 (1979)) or a method in which recipient cells are treated with calcium chloride to increase permeability for DNA (Mandel, M. and Higa, A., J. Mol. Biol., 53, 159 (1970)).

A DNA fragment containing ddh can be prepared from chromosome of a coryneform bacterium by means of PCR. The DNA donor is not specifically limited, however, it is exemplified by Brevibacterium lactofermentum ATCC 13869 strain.

A DDH gene is known for Corynebacterium glutamicum (Ishino, S. et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 15, 3917 (1987)), on the basis of which primers for PCR can be prepared. Such DNA primers are specifically exemplified by DNA's of 20-mers respectively having nucleotide sequences shown in SEQ ID NOs: 6 and 7 in Sequence Listing. Synthesis of DNA, PCR, and preparation of a plasmid carrying obtained ddh can be performed in the same manner as those for lysA described above.

A nucleotide sequence of a DNA fragment containing ddh and an amino acid sequence deduced from the nucleotide sequence are illustrated in SEQ ID NO: 8. Only the amino acid sequence is shown in SEQ ID NO: 9. In addition to DNA fragments coding for this amino acid sequence, the present invention can equivalently use DNA fragments coding for amino acid sequences substantially. the same as the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 9, namely amino acid sequences having mutation based on, for example, substitution, deletion, or insertion of one or more amino acids provided that there is no substantial influence on the DDH activity.

The coryneform bacterium of the present invention harbors a DNA sequence coding for diaminopimelate decarboxylase (lysA) and a DNA sequence coding for diaminopimelate dehydrogenase (ddh) which are enhanced. The term "a DNA sequence is enhanced" herein refers to the fact that the intracellular activity of an enzyme encoded by the DNA sequence is raised by, for example, increasing the copy number of a gene, using a strong promoter, or combining these means.

The coryneform bacterium to which the DNA sequences described above is an L-lysine-producing coryneform bacterium, examples of which include L-lysine-producing wild type strains and artificial mutant strains and coryneform bacteria enhanced in L-lysine productivity by genetic engineering. Even if the bacterium has low L-lysine productivity, the L-lysine productivity can be improved by enhancing lysA and ddh. If the bacterium has high L-lysine productivity, the L-lysine production efficiency can be more raised by enhancing lysA and ddh.

Examples of the coryneform bacterium used to introduce lysA and ddh include, for example, the following lysine-producing strains:

• Corynebacterium acetoacidophilum ATCC 13870;
• Corynebacterium acetoglutamicum ATCC 15806;
• Corynebacterium callunae ATCC 15991;
• Corynebacterium glutamicum ATCC 13032;
• (Brevibacterium divaricatum) ATCC 14020;
• (Brevibacterium lactofermentum) ATCC 13869;
• (Corynebacterium lilium) ATCC 15990;
• (Brevibacterium flavum) ATCC 14067;
• Corynebacterium melassecola ATCC 17965;
• Brevibacterium saccharolyticum ATCC 14066;
• Brevibacterium immariophilum ATCC 14068;
• Brevibacterium roseum ATCC 13825;
• Brevibacterium thiogenitalis ATCC 19240;
• Microbacterium ammoniaphilum ATCC 15354;
• Corynebacterium thermoaminogenes AJ12340 (FERM BP-1539).

Other than the bacterial strains described above, those usable as a host in which lysA and ddh are to be enhanced include, for example, mutant strains having an L-lysine-producing ability derived from the aforementioned strains. Such artificial mutant strains include the followings: S-(2-aminoethyl)-cysteine (hereinafter abbreviated as "AEC") resistant mutant strains (Brevibacterium lactofermentum AJ11082 (NRRL B-11470), Japanese Patent Publication Nos. 56-1914, 56-1915, 57-14157, 57-14158, 57-30474, 58-10075, 59-4993, 61-35840, 62-24074, 62-36673, 5-11958, 7-112437, and 7-112438); mutant strains which require an amino acid such as L-homoserine for their growth (Japanese Patent Publication Nos. 48-28078 and 56-6499); mutant strains which exhibit resistance to AEC and require amino acids such as L-leucine, L-homoserine, L-proline, L-serine, L-arginine, L-alanine, and L-valine (United States Patent Nos. 3,708,395 and 3,825,472); L-lysine-producing mutant strains which exhibit resistance to DL-α-amino-ε-caprolactam, α-amino-lauryllactam, aspartate-analog, sulfa drug, quinoid, and N-lauroylleucine; L-lysine-producing mutant strains which exhibit resistance to inhibitors of oxyaloacetate decarboxylase or respiratory system enzymes (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Nos. 50-53588, 50-31093, 52-102498, 53-9394, 53-86089, 55-9783, 55-9759, 56-32995 and 56-39778, and Japanese Patent Publication Nos. 53-43591 and 53-1833); L-lysine-producing mutant strains which require inositol or acetic acid (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Nos. 55-9784 and 56-8692); L-lysine-producing mutant strains which exhibit sensitivity to fluoropyruvic acid or temperature not less than 34°C (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Nos. 55-9783 and 53-86090); and production mutant strains belonging to the genus Brevibacterium or Corynebacterium which exhibit resistance to ethylene glycol and produce L-lysine (United States Patent No. 4,411,997).

The L-lysine producing speed can be further improved by enhancing lysA and ddh, if the coryneform bacterium has been enhanced in L-lysine production by genetic engineering, for example, by introducing a gene coding for an enzyme having a mutation which causes desensitization in feedback inhibition, wild type of which enzyme is subjected to feedback inhibition among enzymes participating in L-lysine biosynthesis, or by enhancing a gene for L-lysine biosynthesis other than lysA and ddh.

The coryneform bacterium enhanced in L-lysine productivity includes a coryneform bacterium harboring a DNA sequence coding for an aspartokinase which is desensitized in feedback inhibition by L-lysine and L-threonine (an aspartokinase is hereinafter referred to as "AK", a gene coding for an AK protein is hereinafter referred to as "lysC", and a gene coding for an AK protein which is desensitized in feedback inhibition by L-lysine and L-threonine, if necessary), and an enhanced DNA sequence coding for a dihydrodipicolinate reductase (a dihydrodipicolinate reductase is hereinafter referred to as "DDPR", and a gene coding for a DDPR protein is hereinafter referred to as "dapB", if necessary), and the coryneform bacterium further harboring an enhanced DNA sequence coding for a dihydrodipicolinate synthase (a dihydrodipicolinate synthase is hereinafter referred to as "DDPS", and a gene coding for a DDPS protein is hereinafter referred to as "dapA", if necessary). Each of the genes for L-lysine biosynthesis used in the present invention is obtainable in accordance with certain methods as exemplified below.

A DNA fragment containing mutant lysC can be prepared from a mutant strain in which synergistic feedback inhibition on the AK activity by L-lysine and L-threonine is substantially desensitized (International Publication No. WO 94/25605). Such a mutant strain can be obtained, for example, from a group of cells originating from a wild type strain of a coryneform bacterium subjected to a mutation treatment by applying an ordinary mutation treatment such as ultraviolet irradiation and treatment with a mutating agent such as N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine. The AK activity can be measured by using a method described by Miyajima, R. et al., The Journal of Biochemistry (1968), 63(2), 139-148. The most preferred as such a mutant strain is represented by an L-lysine-producing bacterium AJ3445 (FERM P-1944) derived by a mutation treatment from a wild type strain of Brevibacterium lactofermentum ATCC 13869 (having its changed present name of Corynebacterium glutamicum).

Alternatively, mutant lysC is also obtainable by an in vitro mutation treatment of plasmid DNA containing wild type lysC. In another aspect, information is specifically known on mutation to desensitize synergistic feedback inhibition on AK by L-lysine and L-threonine (International Publication No. WO 94/25605). Accordingly, mutant lysC can be also prepared from wild type lysC on the basis of the information in accordance with, for example, the site-directed mutagenesis method.

A DNA fragment containing lysC can be prepared from chromosome of a coryneform bacterium by means of PCR. DNA primers are exemplified by single strand DNA's of 23-mer and 21-mer having nucleotide sequences shown in SEQ ID NOs: 10 and 11 in Sequence Listing in order to amplify, for example, a region of about 1,643 bp coding for lysC based on a sequence known for Corynebacterium glutamicum (see Molecular Microbiology (1991), 5(5), 1197-1204; Mol. Gen. Genet. (1990), 224, 317-324). Synthesis of DNA, PCR, and preparation of a plasmid carrying obtained lysC can be performed in the same manner as those for lysA described above.

Wild type lysC is obtained when lysC is isolated from an AK wild type strain, while mutant lysC is obtained when lysC is isolated from an AK mutant strain in accordance with the method as described above.

An example of a nucleotide sequence of a DNA fragment containing wild type lysC is shown in SEQ ID NO: 12 in Sequence Listing. An amino acid sequence of α-subunit of a wild type AK protein is deduced from the nucleotide sequence, and is shown in SEQ ID NO: 13 in Sequence Listing together with the DNA sequence. Only the amino acid sequence is shown in SEQ ID NO: 14. An amino acid sequence of β-subunit of the wild type AK protein is deduced from the nucleotide sequence of DNA, and is shown in SEQ ID NO: 15 in Sequence Listing together with the DNA sequence. Only the amino acid sequence is shown in SEQ ID NO: 16. In each of the subunits, GTG is used as an initiation codon, and a corresponding amino acid is represented by methionine. However, this representation refers to methionine, valine, or formylmethionine.

The mutant lysC used in the present invention is not specifically limited provided that it codes for AK in which synergistic feedback inhibition by L-lysine and L-threonine is desensitized. However, the mutant lysC is exemplified by one including mutation in which a 279th alanine residue as counted from the N-terminal is changed into an amino acid residue other than alanine and other than acidic amino acid in the α-subunit, and a 30th alanine residue is changed into an amino acid residue other than alanine and other than acidic amino acid in the β-subunit in the amino acid sequence of the wild type AK. The amino acid sequence of the wild type AK specifically includes the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 14 in Sequence Listing as the α-subunit, and the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 16 in Sequence Listing as the β-subunit.

Those preferred as the amino acid residue other than alanine and other than acidic amino acid include threonine, arginine, cysteine, phenylalanine, proline, serine, tyrosine, and valine residues.

The codon corresponding to an amino acid residue to be substituted is not specifically limited for its type provided that it codes for the amino acid residue. It is assumed that the amino acid sequence of possessed wild type AK may slightly differ depending on the difference in bacterial species and bacterial strains. AK's, which have mutation based on, for example, substitution, deletion, or insertion of one or more amino acid residues at one or more positions irrelevant to the enzyme activity as described above, can be also used for the present invention. Other AK's, which have mutation based on, for example, substitution, deletion, or insertion of other one or more amino acid residues, can be also used provided that no influence is substantially exerted on the AK activity, and on the desensitization of synergistic feedback inhibition by L-lysine and L-threonine.

An AJ12691 strain obtained by introducing a mutant lysC plasmid p399AK9B into an AJ12036 strain (FERM BP-734) as a wild type strain of Brevibacterium lactofermentum has been deposited on April 10, 1992 under an accession number of FERM P-12918 in National Institute of Bioscience and Human Technology of Agency of Industrial Science and Technology of Ministry of International Trade and Industry (postal code: 305, 1-3, Higashi 1-chome, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki-ken, Japan), transferred to international deposition based on the Budapest Treaty on February 10, 1995, and deposited under an accession number of FERM BP-4999.

A DNA fragment containing dapB can be prepared from chromosome of a coryneform bacterium by means of PCR. The DNA donor is not specifically limited, however, it is exemplified by Brevibacterium lactofermentum ATCC 13869 strain.

A DNA sequence coding for DDPR is known for Brevibacterium lactofermentum (Journal of Bacteriology, 175 (9), 2743-2749 (1993)), on the basis of which DNA primers for PCR can be prepared. Such DNA primers are specifically exemplified by DNA's of 23-mers respectively having nucleotide sequences shown in SEQ ID NOs: 21 and 22 in Sequence Listing. Synthesis of DNA, PCR, and preparation of a plasmid carrying obtained dapB can be performed in the same manner as those for lysC described above.

A nucleotide sequence of a DNA fragment containing dapB and an amino acid sequence deduced from the nucleotide sequence are illustrated in SEQ ID NO:23. Only the amino acid sequence is shown in SEQ ID NO: 24. In addition to DNA fragments coding for this amino acid sequence, the present invention can equivalently use DNA fragments coding for amino acid sequences substantially the same as the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 24, namely amino acid sequences having mutation based on, for example, substitution, deletion, or insertion of one or more amino acids provided that there is no substantial influence on the DDPR activity.

A transformant strain AJ13107 obtained by introducing a plasmid pCRDAPB carrying dapB obtained in Example described later on into E. coli JM109 strain has been internationally deposited since May 26, 1995 under an accession number of FERM BP-5114 in National Institute of Bioscience and Human Technology of Agency of Industrial Science and Technology of Ministry of International Trade and Industry (postal code: 305, 1-3, Higashi 1-chome, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki-ken, Japan) based on the Budapest Treaty.

A DNA fragment containing dapA can be prepared from chromosome of a coryneform bacterium by means of PCR. The DNA donor is not specifically limited, however, it is exemplified by Brevibacterium lactofermentum ATCC 13869 strain.

A DNA sequence coding for DDPS is known for Corynebacterium glutamicum (see Nucleic Acids Research, 18(21), 6421 (1990); EMBL accession No. X53993), on the basis of which DNA primers for PCR can be prepared. Such DNA primers are specifically exemplified by DNA's of 23-mers respectively having nucleotide sequences shown in SEQ ID NOs: 17 and 18 in Sequence Listing. Synthesis of DNA, PCR, and preparation of a plasmid carrying obtained dapA can be performed in the same manner as those for lysC described above.

A nucleotide sequence of a DNA fragment containing dapA and an amino acid sequence deduced from the nucleotide sequence are exemplified in SEQ ID NO: 19. Only the amino acid sequence is shown in SEQ ID NO: 20. In addition to DNA fragments coding for this amino acid sequence, the present invention can equivalently use DNA fragments coding for amino acid sequences substantially the same as the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 20, namely amino acid sequences having mutation based on, for example, substitution, deletion, or insertion of one or more amino acids provided that there is no substantial influence on the DDPS activity.

A transformant strain AJ13106 obtained by introducing a plasmid pCRDAPA carrying dapA obtained in Example described later on into E. coli JM109 strain has been internationally deposited since May 26, 1995 under an accession number of FERM BP-5113 in National Institute of Bioscience and Human Technology of Agency of Industrial Science and Technology of Ministry of International Trade and Industry (postal code: 305, 1-3, Higashi 1-chome, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki-ken, Japan) based on the Budapest Treaty.

In a specified embodiment, in order to enhance lysA and ddh in the L-lysine-producing coryneform bacterium as described above, the genes are introduced into the host by using a plasmid vector, transposon or phage vector or the like. Upon the introduction, it is expected to make enhancement to some extent even by using a low copy type vector. However, it is preferred to use a multiple copy type vector. Such a vector includes, for example, plasmid vectors, pAJ655, pAJ1844, pAJ611, pAJ3148, and pAJ440 described above. Besides, transposons derived from coryneform bacteria are described in International Publication Nos. WO 92/02627 and WO 93/18151; European Patent Publication No. 445385; Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 6-46867; Vertes, A. A. et al., Mol. Microbiol., 11, 739-746 (1994); Bonamy, C., et al., Mol. Microbiol., 14, 571-581 (1994); Vertes, A. A. et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 245, 397-405 (1994); Jagar, W. et al., FEMS Microbiology Letters, 126, 1-6 (1995); Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Nos. 7-107976 and 7-327680 and the like.

A coryneform bacterium enhanced in lysA and ddh according to the present invention can be obtained, for example, by introducing, into a host coryneform bacterium, a recombinant DNA containing lysA and ddh and being autonomously replicable in cells of coryneform bacteria. The recombinant DNA can be obtained, for example, by inserting lysA and ddh into a vector such as plasmid vector, transposon or phage vector as described above.

Each of the genes of lysA and ddh may be successively introduced into the host by using different vectors respectively. Alternatively, two species of the genes may be introduced together by using a single vector. When different vectors are used, the genes may be introduced in any order, however, it is preferred to use vectors which have a stable sharing and harboring mechanism in the host, and which are capable of coexisting with each other.

In the case in which a plasmid is used as a vector, the recombinant DNA can be introduced into the host in accordance with an electric pulse method (Sugimoto et al., Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2-207791). Amplification of a gene using transposon can be performed by introducing a plasmid carrying a transposon into the host cell and inducing transposition of the transposon.

Also, when mutant lysC, dapA and dapB are introduced into coryneform bacterium, each of the genes and lysA and ddh may be successively introduced into the host by using different vectors respectively or, alternatively, two or more species of the genes may be introduced together by using a single vector.

L-Lysine can be efficiently produced by cultivating, in an appropriate medium, the coryneform bacterium comprising the enhanced genes for L-lysine biosynthesis as described above to allow L-lysine to be produced and accumulated in a culture, and collecting L-lysine from the culture.

The medium to be used is exemplified by an ordinary medium containing a carbon source, a nitrogen source, inorganic ions, and optionally other organic components.

As the carbon source, it is possible to use sugars such as glucose, fructose, sucrose, molasses, and starch hydrolysate; and organic acids such as fumaric acid, citric acid, and succinic acid.

As the nitrogen source, it is possible to use inorganic ammonium salts such as ammonium sulfate, ammonium chloride, and ammonium phosphate; organic nitrogen such as soybean hydrolysate; ammonia gas; and aqueous ammonia.

As organic trace nutrient sources, it is desirable to contain required substances such as vitamin B₁ and L-homoserine or yeast extract or the like in appropriate amounts. Other than the above, potassium phosphate, magnesium sulfate, iron ion, manganese ion and so on are added in small amounts, if necessary.

Cultivation is preferably carried out under an aerobic condition for about 30 to 90 hours. The cultivation temperature is preferably controlled at 25°C to 37°C, and pH is preferably controlled at 5 to 8 during cultivation. Inorganic or organic, acidic or alkaline substances, or ammonia gas or the like can be used for pH adjustment. L-lysine can be collected from a culture by combining an ordinary ion exchange resin method, a precipitation method, and other known methods.

The present invention will be more specifically explained below with reference to Examples.

A wild type strain ATCC 13869 of Brevibacterium lactofermentum was used as a chromosomal DNA donor. Chromosomal DNA was prepared from the ATCC 13869 strain in accordance with an ordinary method. A DNA fragment containing argS, lysA, and a promoter of an operon containing them was amplified from the chromosomal DNA in accordance with PCR. As for DNA primers used for amplification, synthetic DNA's of 23-mers having nucleotide sequences shown in SEQ ID NOs: 1 and 2 in Sequence Listing respectively were used in order to amplify a region of about 3.6 kb coding for arginyl-tRNA synthase and DDC on the basis of a sequence known for Corynebacterium glutamicum (see Molecular Microbiology, 4(11), 1819-1830 (1990); Molecular and General Genetics, 212, 112-119 (1988)).

DNA was synthesized in accordance with an ordinary method by using DNA synthesizer model 380B produced by Applied Biosystems and using the phosphoamidite method (see Tetrahedron Letters (1981), 22, 1859).

The gene was amplified by PCR by using DNA Thermal Cycler Model PJ2000 produced by Takara Shuzo, and using Taq DNA polymerase in accordance with a method designated by the supplier. pHSG399 was used as a cloning vector for the amplified gene fragment of 3,579 bp. pHSG399 was digested with a restriction enzyme SmaI (produced by Takara Shuzo), and was ligated with the DNA fragment containing amplified lysA. A plasmid obtained as described above, which had lysA originating from ATCC 13869, was designated as p399LYSA.

A DNA fragment containing lysA was extracted by digesting p399LYSA with KpnI (produced by Takara Shuzo) and BamHI (produced by Takara Shuzo). This DNA fragment was ligated with pHSG299 having been digested with KpnI and BamHI. An obtained plasmid was designated as p299LYSA. The process of construction of p299LYSA is shown in Fig. 1.

A DNA fragment (hereinafter referred to as "Brevi.-ori") having an ability to make a plasmid autonomously replicable in bacteria belonging to the genus Corynebacterium was introduced into p299LYSA to prepare plasmids carrying lysA autonomously replicable in bacteria belonging to the genus Corynebacterium. Brevi.-ori was prepared from a plasmid vector pHK4 containing Brevi.-ori and autonomously replicable in cells of both Escherichia coli and bacteria belonging to the genus Corynebacterium. pHK4 was constructed by digesting pHC4 with KpnI (produced by Takara Shuzo) and BamHI (produced by Takara Shuzo), extracting a Brevi.-ori fragment, and ligating it with pHSG298 having been also digested with KpnI and BamHI (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 5-7491). pHK4 gives kanamycin resistance to a host. Escherichia coli HB101 harboring pHK4 was designated as Escherichia coli AJ13136, and deposited on August 1, 1995 under an accession number of FERM BP-5186 in National Institute of Bioscience and Human Technology of Agency of Industrial Science and Technology of Ministry of International Trade and Industry (postal code: 305, 1-3, Higashi 1-chome, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki-ken, Japan).

pHK4 was digested with a restriction enzyme BamHI, and cleaved ends were blunted. Blunt end formation was performed by using DNA Blunting kit (produced by Takara Shuzo) in accordance with a designated method. After the blunt end formation, a phosphorylated KpnI linker (produced by Takara Shuzo) was ligated to make modification so that the DNA fragment corresponding to the Brevi.-ori portion might be excised from pHK4 by digestion with only KpnI. This plasmid was digested with KpnI, and the generated Brevi.-ori DNA fragment was ligated with p299LYSA having been also digested with KpnI to prepare a plasmid carrying lysA autonomously replicable in coryneform bacteria. The prepared plasmid was designated as pLYSAB. The process of construction of pLYSAB is shown in Fig. 2.

Plasmid DNA of p299LYSA was prepared, and nucleotide sequence determination was performed in accordance with a method of Sanger et al. (for example, F. Sanger et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 74, 5463 (1977)). A determined nucleotide sequence and an amino acid sequence deduced to be encoded by the nucleotide sequence are shown in SEQ ID NO: 3. Concerning the nucleotide sequence, an amino acid sequence encoded by argS and an amino acid sequence encoded by lysA are shown in SEQ ID NOs: 4 and 5 respectively.

A ddh gene was obtained by amplifying the ddh gene from chromosomal DNA of Brevibacterium lactofermentum ATCC 13869 in accordance with the PCR method by using two oligonucleotide primers (SEQ ID NOs: 6, 7) prepared on the basis of a known nucleotide sequence of a ddh gene of Corynebacterium glutamicum (Ishino, S. et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 15, 3917 (1987)). An obtained amplified DNA fragment was digested with Eco T22I and AvaI, and cleaved ends were blunted. After that, the fragment was inserted into a SmaI site of pMW119 to obtain a plasmid pDDH.

Next, pDDH was digested with SalI and EcoRI, followed by blunt end formation. After that, an obtained fragment was ligated with pUC18 having been digested with SmaI. A plasmid thus obtained was designated as pUC18DDH.

Brevi.-ori was introduced into pUC18DDH to construct a plasmid carrying ddh autonomously replicable in coryneform bacteria. pHK4 was digested with restriction enzymes KpnI and BamHI, and cleaved ends were blunted. Blunt end formation was performed by using DNA Blunting kit (produced by Takara Shuzo) in accordance with a designated method. After the blunt end formation, a phosphorylated PstI linker (produced by Takara Shuzo) was ligated so that it was inserted into a PstI site of pHSG299. A plasmid constructed as described above was designated as pPK4. Next, pUC18DDH was digested with XbaI and KpnI, and a generated fragment was ligated with pPK4 having been digested with KpnI and XbaI. Thus a plasmid carrying ddh autonomously replicable in coryneform bacteria was constructed. This plasmid was designated as pPK4D. The process of construction of pPK4D is shown in Fig. 3.

The plasmid pUC18DDH carrying ddh was digested with EcoRI and then blunt-ended and further digested with XbaI to extract a DNA fragment containing ddh. This ddh fragment was ligated with the plasmid p399LYSA carrying lysA having been digested with BamHI and then blunt-ended and further having been digested with XbaI. An obtained plasmid was designated as p399DL. The process of construction of p399DL is-shown in Fig. 4.

Next, Brevi.-ori was introduced into p399DL. pHK4 was digested with XbaI and BamHI, and cleaved ends were blunted. After the blunt end formation, a phosphorylated XbaI linker was ligated to make modification so that the DNA fragment corresponding to the Brevi.-ori portion might be excised from pHK4 by digestion with only XbaI. This plasmid was digested with XbaI, and the generated Brevi.-ori DNA fragment was ligated with p399DL having been also digested with XbaI to construct a plasmid containing ddh and lysA autonomously replicable in coryneform bacteria. The constructed-plasmid was designated as pDL. The process of construction of pDL is shown in Fig. 5.

A strain of Brevibacterium lactofermentum ATCC 13869, and an L-lysine-producing mutant strain AJ3445 (FERM P-1944) obtained from the ATCC 13869 strain by a mutation treatment were used as chromosomal DNA donors. The AJ3445 strain had been subjected to mutation so that lysC was changed to involve substantial desensitization from concerted inhibition by lysine and threonine (Journal of Biochemistry, 6B, 701-710 (1970)).

A DNA fragment containing lysC was amplified from chromosomal DNA in accordance with the PCR method (polymerase chain reaction; see White, T. J. et al., Trends Genet., 5, 185 (1989)). As for DNA primers used for amplification, single strand DNA's of 23-mer and 21-mer having nucleotide sequences shown in SEQ ID NOs: 10 and 11 were synthesized in order to amplify a region of about 1,643 bp coding for lysC on the basis of a sequence known for Corynebacterium glutamicum (see Molecular Microbiology (1991), 5(5), 1197-1204; and Mol. Gen. Genet. (1990), 224, 317-324).

An amplified gene fragment of 1,643 kb was confirmed by agarose gel electrophoresis. After that, the fragment excised from the gel was purified in accordance with an ordinary method, and it was digested with restriction enzymes NruI (produced by Takara Shuzo) and EcoRI (produced by Takara Shuzo).

pHSG399 (see Takeshita, S. et al., Gene (1987), 61, 63-74) was used as a cloning vector for the gene fragment. pHSG399 was digested with restriction enzymes SmaI (produced by Takara Shuzo) and EcoRI, and it was ligated with the amplified lysC fragment. DNA was ligated by using DNA ligation kit (produced by Takara Shuzo) in accordance with a designated method. Thus plasmids were prepared, in which the lysC fragments amplified from chromosomes of Brevibacterium lactofermentum were ligated with pHSG399 respectively. A plasmid carrying lysC from ATCC 13869 (wild type strain) was designated as p399AKY, and a plasmid carrying lysC from AJ3463 (L-lysine-producing bacterium) was designated as p399AK9.

Brevi.-ori was introduced into the prepared p399AKY and p399AK9 respectively to construct plasmids carrying lysC autonomously replicable in coryneform bacteria.

pHK4 was digested with restriction enzymes KpnI and BamHI (produced by Takara Shuzo), and cleaved ends were blunted. Blunt end formation was performed by using DNA Blunting kit (produced by Takara Shuzo) in accordance with a designated method. After the blunt end formation, a phosphorylated BamHI linker (produced by Takara Shuzo) was ligated to make modification so that the DNA fragment corresponding to the Brevi.-ori portion might be excised from pHK4 by digestion with only BamHI. This plasmid was digested with BamHI, and the generated Brevi.-ori DNA fragment was ligated with p399AKY and p399AK9 having been also digested with BamHI to prepare plasmids carrying lysC autonomously replicable in coryneform bacteria.

A plasmid carrying the wild type lysC gene originating from p399AKY was designated as p399AKYB, and a plasmid carrying the mutant lysC gene originating from p399AK9 was designated as p399AK9B. The process of construction of p399AK9B and p399AKYB is shown in Fig. 6. A strain AJ12691 obtained by introducing the mutant lysC plasmid p399AK9B into a wild type strain of Brevibacterium lactofermentum (AJ12036 strain, FERM BP-734) was deposited on April 10, 1992 under an accession number of FERM P-12918 in National Institute of Bioscience and Human Technology of Agency of Industrial Science and Technology of Ministry of International Trade and Industry (postal code: 305, 1-3, Higashi 1-chome, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki-ken, Japan), transferred to international deposition based on the Budapest Treaty on February 10, 1995, and deposited under an accession number of FERM BP-4999.

The plasmid p399AKY containing the wild type lysC and the plasmid p399AK9 containing the mutant lysC were prepared from the respective transformants to determine nucleotide sequences of the wild type and mutant lysC's. Nucleotide sequence determination was performed in accordance with a method of Sanger et al. (for example, F. Sanger et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 74, 5463 (1977)).

The nucleotide sequence of wild type lysC encoded by p399AKY is shown in SEQ ID NO: 12 in Sequence Listing. On the other hand, the nucleotide sequence of mutant lysC encoded by p399AK9 had only mutation of one nucleotide such that 1051st G was changed into A in SEQ ID NO: 12 as compared with wild type lysC. It is known that lysC of Corynebacterium glutamicum has two subunits (α, β) encoded in an identical reading frame on an identical DNA strand (see Kalinowski, J. et al., Molecular Microbiology (1991) 5(5), 1197-1204). Judging from homology, it is expected that the gene sequenced herein also has two subunits (α, β) encoded in an identical reading frame on an identical DNA strand.

An amino acid sequence of the α-subunit of the wild type AK protein deduced from the nucleotide sequence of DNA is shown in SEQ ID NO: 13 together with the DNA sequence. Only the amino acid sequence is shown in SEQ ID NO: 14. An amino acid sequence of the β-subunit of the wild type AK protein deduced from the nucleotide sequence of DNA is shown in SEQ ID NO: 15 together with DNA. Only the amino acid sequence is shown in SEQ ID NO: 16. In each of the subunits, GTG is used as an initiation codon, and a corresponding amino acid is represented by methionine. However, this representation refers to methionine, valine, or formylmethionine.

On the other hand, mutation on the sequence of mutant lysC means occurrence of amino acid residue substitution such that a 279th alanine residue of the α-subunit is changed into a threonine residue, and a 30th alanine residue of the β-subunit is changed into a threonine residue in the amino acid sequence of the wild type AK protein (SEQ ID NOs: 14, 16).

A wild type strain ATCC 13869 of Brevibacterium lactofermentum was used as a chromosomal DNA donor. Chromosomal DNA was prepared from the ATCC 13869 strain in accordance with an ordinary method. A DNA fragment containing dapB was amplified from the chromosomal DNA in accordance with PCR. As for DNA primers used for amplification, DNA's of 23-mers having nucleotide sequences shown in SEQ ID NOs: 21 and 22 in Sequence Listing respectively were synthesized in order to amplify a region of about 2.0 kb coding for DDPR on the basis of a sequence known for Brevibacterium lactofermentum (see Journal of Bacteriology, 157(9), 2743-2749 (1993)). Synthesis of DNA and PCR were performed in the same manner as described in Example 1. pCR-Script (produced by Invitrogen) was used as a cloning vector for the amplified gene fragment of 2,001 bp, and was ligated with the amplified dapB fragment. Thus a plasmid was constructed, in which the dapB fragment of 2,001 bp amplified from chromosome of Brevibacterium lactofermentum was ligated with pCR-Script. The plasmid obtained as described above, which had dapB originating from ATCC 13869, was designated as pCRDAPB. A transformant strain AJ13107 obtained by introducing pCRDAPB into E. coli JM109 strain has been internationally deposited since May 26, 1995 under an accession number of FERM BP-5114 in National Institute of Bioscience and Human Technology of Agency of Industrial Science and Technology of Ministry of International Trade and Industry (postal code: 305, 1-3, Higashi 1-chome, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki-ken, Japan) based on the Budapest Treaty.

A fragment of 1,101 bp containing a structural gene of DDPR was extracted by digesting pCRDAPB with EcoRV and SphI. This fragment was ligated with pHSG399 having been digested with HincII and SphI to prepare a plasmid. The prepared plasmid was designated as p399DPR.

Brevi.-ori was introduced into the prepared p399DPR to construct a plasmid carrying dapB autonomously replicable in coryneform bacteria. pHK4 was digested with a restriction enzyme KpnI (produced by Takara Shuzo), and cleaved ends were blunted. Blunt end formation was performed by using DNA Blunting kit (produced by Takara Shuzo) in accordance with a designated method. After the blunt end formation, a phosphorylated BamHI linker (produced by Takara Shuzo) was ligated to make modification so that the DNA fragment corresponding to the Brevi.-ori portion might be excised from pHK4 by digestion with only BamHI. This plasmid was digested with BamHI, and the generated Brevi.-ori DNA fragment was ligated with p399DPR having been also digested with BamHI to prepare a plasmid containing dapB autonomously replicable in coryneform bacteria. The prepared plasmid was designated as pDPRB. The process of construction of pDPRB is shown in Fig. 7.

Plasmid DNA was prepared from the AJ13107 strain harboring p399DPR, and its nucleotide sequence was determined in the same manner as described in Example 1. A determined nucleotide sequence and an amino acid sequence deduced from the nucleotide sequence are shown in SEQ ID NO: 23. Only the amino acid sequence is shown in SEQ ID NO: 24.

A wild type strain of Brevibacterium lactofermentum ATCC 13869 was used as a chromosomal DNA donor. Chromosomal DNA was prepared from the ATCC 13869 strain in accordance with an ordinary method. A DNA fragment containing dapA was amplified from the chromosomal DNA in accordance with PCR. As for DNA primers used for amplification, DNA's of 23-mers having nucleotide sequences shown in SEQ ID NOs: 17 and 18 in Sequence Listing respectively were synthesized in order to amplify a region of about 1.5 kb coding for DDPS on the basis of a sequence known for Corynebacterium glutamicum (see Nucleic Acids Research, 18(21), 6421 (1990); EMBL accession No. X53993). Synthesis of DNA and PCR were performed in the same manner as described in Example 1. pCR1000 (produced by Invitrogen, see Bio/Technology, 9, 657-663 (1991)) was used as a cloning vector for the amplified gene fragment of 1,411 bp, and was ligated with the amplified dapA fragment. Ligation of DNA was performed by using DNA ligation kit (produced by Takara Shuzo) in accordance with a designated method. Thus a plasmid was constructed, in which the dapA fragment of 1,411 bp amplified from chromosome of Brevibacterium lactofermentum was ligated with pCR1000. The plasmid obtained as described above, which had dapA originating from ATCC 13869, was designated as pCRDAPA.

A transformant strain AJ13106 obtained by introducing pCRDAPA into E. coli JM109 strain has been internationally deposited since May 26, 1995 under an accession number of FERM BP-5113 in National Institute of Bioscience and Human Technology of Agency of Industrial Science and Technology of Ministry of International Trade and Industry (postal code: 305, 1-3, Higashi 1-chome, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki-ken, Japan) based on the Budapest Treaty.

Brevi.-ori was introduced into the prepared pCRDAPA to construct a plasmid carrying dapA autonomously replicable in coryneform bacteria. pHK4 was digested with restriction enzymes KpnI and BamHI (produced by Takara Shuzo), and cleaved ends were blunted. Blunt end formation was performed by using DNA Blunting kit (produced by Takara Shuzo) in accordance with a designated method. After the blunt end formation, a phosphorylated SmaI linker (produced by Takara Shuzo) was ligated to make modification so that the DNA fragment corresponding to the Brevi.-ori portion might be excised from pHK4 by digestion with only SmaI. This plasmid was digested with SmaI, and the generated Brevi.-ori DNA fragment was ligated with pCRDAPA having been also digested with SmaI to prepare a plasmid carrying dapA autonomously replicable in coryneform bacteria. This plasmid was designated as pDPSB. The process of construction of pDPSB(Km^r) is shown in Fig. 8.

Plasmid DNA was prepared from the AJ13106 strain harboring pCRDAPA, and its nucleotide sequence was determined in the same manner as described in Example 1. A determined nucleotide sequence and an amino acid sequence deduced from the nucleotide sequence are shown in SEQ ID NO: 19. Only the amino acid sequence is shown in SEQ ID NO: 20.

A plasmid carrying mutant lysC, dapA, and replication origin of coryneform bacteria was constructed from the plasmid pCRDAPA carrying dapA and the plasmid p399AK9B carrying mutant lysC and Brevi.-ori. p399AK9B was completely digested with SalI, and then it was blunt-ended. An EcoRI linker was ligated therewith to construct a plasmid in which the SalI site was modified into an EcoRI site. The obtained plasmid was designated as p399AK9BSE. The mutant lysC and Brevi.-ori were excised as one fragment by partially digesting p399AK9BSE with EcoRI. This fragment was ligated with pCRDAPA having been digested with EcoRI. An obtained plasmid was designated as pCRCAB. This plasmid is autonomously replicable in E. coli and coryneform bacteria, and it gives kanamycin resistance to a host, the plasmid carrying both of mutant lysC and dapA. The process of construction of pCRCAB is shown in Fig. 9.

A plasmid carrying mutant lysC and dapB was constructed from the plasmid p399AK9 carrying mutant lysC and the plasmid p399DPR carrying dapB. A fragment of 1,101 bp containing a structural gene of DDPR was extracted by digesting p399DPR with EcoRV and SphI. This fragment was ligated with p399AK9 having been digested with SalI and then blunt-ended and having been further digested with SphI to construct a plasmid carrying both of mutant lysC and dapB. This plasmid was designated as p399AKDDPR.

Next, Brevi.-ori was introduced into the obtained p399AKDDPR. The plasmid pHK4 containing Brevi.-ori was digested with a restriction enzyme KpnI (produced by Takara Shuzo), and cleaved ends were blunted. Blunt end formation was performed by using DNA Blunting kit (produced by Takara Shuzo) in accordance with a designated method. After the blunt end formation, a phosphorylated BamHI linker (produced by Takara Shuzo) was ligated to make modification so that the DNA fragment corresponding to the Brevi.-ori portion might be excised from pHK4 by digestion with only BamHI. This plasmid was digested with BamHI, and the generated Brevi.-ori DNA fragment was ligated with p399AKDDPR having been also digested with BamHI to construct a plasmid carrying mutant lysC and dapB autonomously replicable in coryneform bacteria. The constructed plasmid was designated as pCB. The process of construction of pCB is shown in Fig. 10.

The plasmid pCRDAPA carrying dapA was digested with KpnI and EcoRI to extract a DNA fragment containing dapA and the fragment was ligated with the vector plasmid pHSG399 having been digested with KpnI and EcoRI. An obtained plasmid was designated as p39.9DPS.

On the other hand, the plasmid pCRDAPB carrying dapB was digested with SacII and EcoRI to extract a DNA fragment of 2.0 kb containing a region coding for DDPR and the fragment was ligated with p399DPS having been digested with SacII and EcoRI to construct a plasmid carrying both of dapA and dapB. The obtained plasmid was designated as p399AB.

Next, Brevi.-ori was introduced into p399AB. pHK4 carrying Brevi.-ori was digested with a restriction enzyme BamHI (produced by Takara Shuzo), and cleaved ends were blunted. Blunt end formation was performed by using DNA Blunting kit (produced by Takara Shuzo) in accordance with a designated method. After the blunt end formation, a phosphorylated KpnI linker (produced by Takara Shuzo) was ligated to make modification so that the DNA fragment corresponding to the Brevi.-ori portion might be excised from pHK4 by digestion with only KpnI. This plasmid was digested with KpnI, and the generated Brevi.-ori DNA fragment was ligated with p399AB having been also digested with KpnI to construct a plasmid carrying dapA and dapB autonomously replicable in coryneform bacteria. The constructed plasmid was designated as pAB. The process of construction of pAB is shown in Fig. 11.

p399DPS was digested with EcoRI and SphI followed by blunt end formation to extract a dapA gene fragment. This fragment was ligated with the p399AK9 having been digested with SalI and blunt-ended to construct a plasmid p399CA in which mutant lysC and dapA co-existed.

The plasmid pCRDAPB carrying dapB was digested with EcoRI and blunt-ended, followed by digestion with SacI to extract a DNA fragment of 2.0 kb comprising dapB. The plasmid p399CA carrying dapA and mutant lysC was digested with SpeI and blunt-ended, and was thereafter digested with SacI and ligated with the extracted dapB fragment to obtain a plasmid carrying mutant lysC, dapA, and dapB. This plasmid was designated as p399CAB.

Next, Brevi.-ori was introduced into p399CAB. The plasmid pHK4 carrying Brevi.-ori was digested with a restriction enzyme BamHI (produced by Takara Shuzo), and cleaved ends were blunted. Blunt end formation was performed by using DNA Blunting kit (produced by Takara Shuzo) in accordance with a designated method. After the blunt end formation, a phosphorylated KpnI linker (produced by Takara Shuzo) was ligated to make modification so that the DNA fragment corresponding to the Brevi.-ori portion might be excised from pHK4 by digestion with only KpnI. This plasmid was digested with KpnI, and the generated Brevi.-ori DNA fragment was ligated with p399CAB having been also digested with KpnI to construct a plasmid carrying mutant lysC, dapA, and dapB together autonomously replicable in coryneform bacteria. The constructed plasmid was designated as pCAB. The process of construction of pCAB is shown in Fig. 12.

The plasmid p299LYSA carrying lysA was digested with KpnI and BamHI and blunt-ended, and then a lysA gene fragment was extracted. This fragment was ligated with pCAB having been digested with HpaI (produced by Takara Shuzo) and blunt-ended to construct a plasmid carrying mutant lysC, dapA, dapB, and lysA together autonomously replicable in coryneform bacteria. The constructed plasmid was designated as pCABL. The process of construction of pCABL is shown in Fig. 13. It is noted that the lysA gene fragment is inserted into a HpaI site in a DNA fragment containing the dapB gene in pCABL, however, the HpaI site is located upstream from a promoter for the dapB gene (nucleotide numbers 611 to 616 in SEQ ID NO: 23, and the dapB gene is not divided.

pHSG299 was digested with XbaI and KpnI, and was ligated with p399DL carrying ddh and lysA having been digested with XbaI and KpnI. A constructed plasmid was designated as p299DL. p299DL was digested with XbaI and KpnI and blunt-ended. After the blunt end formation, a DNA fragment carrying ddh and lysA was extracted. This DNA fragment was ligated with the plasmid pCAB carrying mutant lysC, dapA, and dapB together having been digested with HpaI and blunt-ended to construct a plasmid carrying mutant lysC, dapA, dapB, lysA and ddh together autonomously replicable in coryneform bacteria. The constructed plasmid was designated as pCABDL. The process of construction of pCABDL is shown in Fig. 14.

The plasmids carrying the genes for L-lysine biosynthesis constructed as described above, namely pLYSAB(Cm^r), pPK4D(Cm^r), p399AK9B(Cm^r), pDPSB(Km¹), pDPRB(Cm^r), pCRCAB(Km^r), pAB(Cm^r), pDL(Cm^r), pCB(Cm^r), pCAB(Cm^r), pCABL(Cm^r), and pCABDL(Cm^r) were introduced into an L-lysine-producing bacterium AJ11082 (NRRL B-11470) of Brevibacterium lactofermentum respectively. AJ11082 strain has a property of AEC resistance. The plasmids were introduced in accordance with an electric pulse method (Sugimoto et al., Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2-207791). Transformants were selected based on drug resistance markers possessed by the respective plasmids. Transformants were selected on a complete medium containing 5 µg/ml of chloramphenicol when a plasmid carrying a chloramphenicol resistance gene was introduced, or transformants were selected on a complete medium containing 25 µg/ml of kanamycin when a plasmid carrying a kanamycin resistance gene was introduced.

Each of the transformants obtained in Example 5 was cultivated in an L-lysine-producing medium to evaluate its L-lysine productivity. The L-lysine-producing medium had the following composition.

The following components other than calcium carbonate (per liter) were dissolved to make adjustment at pH 8.0 with KOH. The medium was sterilized at 115°C for 15 minutes, and calcium carbonate (50 g) having been separately sterilized in hot air in a dry state was added to the sterilized medium. Glucose 100 g (NH₄)₂SO₄ 55 g KH₂PO₄ 1 g MgSO₄•7H₂O 1 g Biotin 500 µg Thiamin 2000 µg FeSO₄•7H₂O 0.01 g MnSO₄•7H₂O 0.01 g Nicotinamide 5 mg Protein hydrolysate (Mamenou) 30 ml Calcium carbonate 50 g

Each of the various types of the transformants and the parent strain was inoculated to the medium having the composition described above to perform cultivation at 31.5°C with reciprocating shaking. The amount of produced L-lysine after 40 or 72 hours of cultivation, and the growth after 72 hours (OD₅₆₂) are shown in Table 1. In the table, lysC* represents mutant lysC. The growth was quantitatively determined by measuring OD at 560 nm after 101-fold dilution. Accumulation of L-Lysine after Cultivation for 40 or 72 Hours Bacterial strain /plasmid Introduced gene Amount of produced Growth L-lysine(g/L) (OD₅₆₂/101) after 40 hrs after 72 hrs AJ11082 22.0 29.8 0.450 AJ11082/pLYSAB lysA 19.8 32.5 0.356 AJ11082/pPK4D ddh 19.0 33.4 0.330 AJ11082/p399AK9B lysC* 16.8 34.5 0.398 AJ11082/pDPSB dapA 18.7 33.8 0.410 AJ11082/pDPRB dapB 19.9 29.9 0.445 AJ11082/pCRCAB lysC*, dapA 19.7 36.5 0.360 AJ11082/pAB dapA, dapB 19.0 34.8 0.390 AJ11082/pDL lysA, ddh 23.3 31.6 0.440 AJ11082/pCB lysC*, dapB 23.3 35.0 0.440 AJ11082/pCAB lysC*, dapA, dapB 23.0 45.0 0.425 AJ11082/pCABL lysC*, dapA, dapB, lysA 26.2 46.5 0.379 AJ11082/pCABDL lysC*, dapA, dapB, lysA, ddh 26.5 47.0 0.409

As shown above, when lysA, ddh, mutant lysC, dapA, or dapB was enhanced singly, the amount of produced L-lysine after 72 hours of cultivation was larger than or equivalent to that produced by the parent strain, however, the amount of produced L-lysine after 40 hours of cultivation was smaller than that produced by the parent strain. Namely, the L-lysine-producing speed was lowered in cultivation for a short period. Similarly, when mutant lysC and dapA, or dapA and dapB were enhanced in combination, the amount of produced L-lysine after 72 hours of cultivation was larger than that produced by the parent strain, however, the amount of produced L-lysine after 40 hours of cultivation was smaller than that produced by the parent strain. Thus the L-lysine-producing speed was lowered.

On the other hand, when only lysA and ddh were enhanced in combination, the growth was improved, the L-lysine-producing speed was successfully restored in the short period of cultivation, and the accumulated amount of L-lysine was also improved in cultivation for a long period.

Also, in the case of the strain in which dapB was enhanced together with mutant lysC, and in the case of the strain in which dapA as well as these genes were simultaneously enhanced, the growth was improved and the L-lysine-producing speed was increased compared with the parent strain. In the case of the strain in which these three genes were simultaneously enhanced, both of the L-lysine-producing speed and the amount of accumulated L-lysine were further improved by further enhancing lysA and ddh.

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  8. (viii) ATTORNEY/AGENT INFORMATION:
     1. (A) NAME :
     2. (B) REGISTRATION NUMBER:
  9. (ix) TELECOMMUNICATION INFORMATION:
     1. (A) TELEPHONE:
     2. (B) TELEFAX:
• (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 1
  • (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:
    1. (A) LENGTH: 23 base pairs
    2. (B) TYPE: nucleic acid
    3. (C) STRANDEDNESS: single
    4. (D) TOPOLOGY: linear
  • (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: other nucleic acid
    1. (A) DESCRIPTION: /desc="Synthetic DNA"
  • (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO
  • (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:1:
    GTGGAGCCGA CCATTCCGCG AGG   23
• (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 2
  • (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:
    1. (A) LENGTH: 23 base pairs
    2. (B) TYPE: nucleic acid
    3. (C) STRANDEDNESS: single
    4. (D) TOPOLOGY: linear
  • (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: other nucleic acid
    1. (A) DESCRIPTION: /desc="Synthetic DNA"
  • (iv) ANTI-SENSE: YES
  • (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:2:
    CCAAAACCGC CCTCCACGGC GAA 23
• (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 3
  • (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:
    1. (A) LENGTH: 3579 base pairs
    2. (B) TYPE: nucleic acid
    3. (C) STRANDEDNESS: double
    4. (D) TOPOLOGY: linear
  • (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: Genomic DNA
  • (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:
    1. (A) ORGANISM: Brevibacterium lactofermentum
    2. (B) STRAIN: ATCC 13869
  • (ix) FEATURE:
    1. (A) NAME/KEY: CDS
    2. (B) LOCATION: 533..2182
  • (ix) FEATURE :
    1. (A) NAME/KEY: CDS
    2. (B) LOCATION: 2188..3522
  • (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:3:
• (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 4
  • (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:
    • (A) LENGTH: 550 amino acids
    • (B) TYPE: amino acid
    • (D) TOPOLOGY: linear
  • (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein
  • (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:4:
• (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 5
  • (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:
    • (A) LENGTH: 445 amino acids
    • (B) TYPE: amino acid
    • (D) TOPOLOGY: linear
  • (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein
  • (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:5:
• (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 6
  • (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:
    1. (A) LENGTH: 20 base pairs
    2. (B) TYPE: nucleic acid
    3. (C) STRANDEDNESS: single
    4. (D) TOPOLOGY: linear
  • (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: other nucleic acid
    1. (A) DESCRIPTION: /desc="Synthetic DNA"
  • (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO
  • (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:6:
    CATCTAAGTA TGCATCTCGG   20
• (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 7
  • (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:
    1. (A) LENGTH: 20 base pairs
    2. (B) TYPE: nucleic acid
    3. (C) STRANDEDNESS: single
    4. (D) TOPOLOGY: linear
  • (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: other nucleic acid
    1. (A) DESCRIPTION: /desc="Synthetic DNA"
  • (iv) ANTI-SENSE: YES
  • (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:7:
    TGCCCCTCGA GCTAAATTAG   20
• (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 8
  • (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:
    1. (A) LENGTH: 1034 base pairs
    2. (B) TYPE: nucleic acid
    3. (C) STRANDEDNESS: double
    4. (D) TOPOLOGY: linear
  • (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: Genomic DNA
  • (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:
    1. (A) ORGANISM: Brevibacterium lactofermentum
    2. (B) STRAIN: ATCC 13869
  • (ix) FEATURE:
    1. (A) NAME/KEY: CDS
    2. (B) LOCATION: 61..1020
  • (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:8:
• (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 9
  • (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:
    • (A) LENGTH: 320 amino acids
    • (B) TYPE: amino acid
    • (D) TOPOLOGY: linear
  • (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein
  • (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:9:
• (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 10
  • (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:
    1. (A) LENGTH: 23 base pairs
    2. (B) TYPE: nucleic acid
    3. (C) STRANDEDNESS: single
    4. (D) TOPOLOGY: linear
  • (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: other nucleic acid
    1. (A) DESCRIPTION: /desc="Synthetic DNA"
  • (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO
  • (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:10:
    TCGCGAAGTA GCACCTGTCA CTT   23
• (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 11
  • (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:
    1. (A) LENGTH: 21 base pairs
    2. (B) TYPE: nucleic acid
    3. (C) STRANDEDNESS: single
    4. (D) TOPOLOGY: linear
  • (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: other nucleic acid
    1. (A) DESCRIPTION: /desc="Synthetic DNA"
  • (iv) ANTI-SENSE: YES
  • (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:11:
    ACGGAATTCA ATCTTACGGC C   21
• (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 12
  • (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:
    1. (A) LENGTH: 1643 base pairs
    2. (B) TYPE: nucleic acid
    3. (C) STRANDEDNESS: double
    4. (D) TOPOLOGY: linear
  • (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: Genomic DNA
  • (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:
    1. (A) ORGANISM: Brevibacterium lactofermentum
    2. (B) STRAIN: ATCC 13869
  • (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:12:
• (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 13
  • (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:
    1. (A) LENGTH: 1643 base pairs
    2. (B) TYPE: nucleic acid
    3. (C) STRANDEDNESS: double
    4. (D) TOPOLOGY: linear
  • (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: Genomic DNA
  • (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:
    1. (A) ORGANISM: Brevibacterium lactofermentum
    2. (B) STRAIN: ATCC 13869
  • (ix) FEATURE:
    1. (A) NAME/KEY: CDS
    2. (B) LOCATION: 217..1482
  • (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:13:
• (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 14
  • (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:
    • (A) LENGTH: 421 amino acids
    • (B) TYPE: amino acid
    • (D) TOPOLOGY: linear
  • (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein
  • (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:14:
• (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 15
  • (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:
    1. (A) LENGTH: 1643 base pairs
    2. (B) TYPE: nucleic acid
    3. (C) STRANDEDNESS: double
    4. (D) TOPOLOGY: linear
  • (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: Genomic DNA
  • (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:
    1. (A) ORGANISM: Brevibacterium lactofermentum
    2. (B) STRAIN: ATCC 13869
  • (ix) FEATURE :
    1. (A) NAME/KEY: CDS
    2. (B) LOCATION: 964..1482
  • (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:15:
• (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 16
  • (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:
    • (A) LENGTH: 172 amino acids
    • (B) TYPE: amino acid
    • (D) TOPOLOGY: linear
  • (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein
  • (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:16:
• (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 17
  • (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:
    1. (A) LENGTH: 23 base pairs
    2. (B) TYPE: nucleic acid
    3. (C) STRANDEDNESS: single
    4. (D) TOPOLOGY: linear
  • (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: other nucleic acid
    1. (A) DESCRIPTION: /desc="Synthetic DNA"
  • (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO
  • (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:17:
    GTCGACGGAT CGCAAATGGC AAC   23
• (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 18
  • (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:
    1. (A) LENGTH: 23 base pairs
    2. (B) TYPE: nucleic acid
    3. (C) STRANDEDNESS: single
    4. (D) TOPOLOGY: linear
  • (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: other nucleic acid
    1. (A) DESCRIPTION: /desc="Synthetic DNA"
  • (iv) ANTI-SENSE: YES
  • (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:18:
    GGATCCTTGA GCACCTTGCG CAG   23
• (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 19
  • (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:
    1. (A) LENGTH: 1411 base pairs
    2. (B) TYPE: nucleic acid
    3. (C) STRANDEDNESS: double
    4. (D) TOPOLOGY: linear
  • (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: Genomic DNA
  • (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:
    1. (A) ORGANISM: Brevibacterium lactofermentum
    2. (B) STRAIN: ATCC 13869
  • (ix) FEATURE :
    1. (A) NAME/KEY: CDS
    2. (B) LOCATION: 311..1213
  • (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:19:
• (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 20
  • (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:
    • (A) LENGTH: 301 amino acids
    • (B) TYPE: amino acid
    • (D) TOPOLOGY: linear
  • (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein
  • (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:20:
• (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 21
  • (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:
    1. (A) LENGTH: 23 base pairs
    2. (B) TYPE: nucleic acid
    3. (C) STRANDEDNESS: single
    4. (D) TOPOLOGY: linear
  • (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: other nucleic acid
    1. (A) DESCRIPTION: /desc="Synthetic DNA"
  • (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO
  • (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:21:
    GGATCCCCAA TCGATACCTG GAA   23
• (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 22
  • (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:
    1. (A) LENGTH: 23 base pairs
    2. (B) TYPE: nucleic acid
    3. (C) STRANDEDNESS: single
    4. (D) TOPOLOGY: linear
  • (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: other nucleic acid
    • (A) DESCRIPTION: /desc="Synthetic DNA"
  • (iv) ANTI-SENSE: YES
  • (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:22:
    CGGTTCATCG CCAAGTTTTT CTT   23
• (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 23
  • (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:
    1. (A) LENGTH: 2001 base pairs
    2. (B) TYPE: nucleic acid
    3. (C) STRANDEDNESS: double
    4. (D) TOPOLOGY: linear
  • (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: Genomic DNA
  • (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:
    1. (A) ORGANISM: Brevibacterium lactofermentum
    2. (B) STRAIN: ATCC 13869
  • (ix) FEATURE:
    1. (A) NAME/KEY: CDS
    2. (B) LOCATION: 730..1473
  • (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:23:
• (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 24
  • (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:
    • (A) LENGTH: 248 amino acids
    • (B) TYPE: amino acid
    • (D) TOPOLOGY: linear
  • (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein
  • (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:24: